"Thousands of gays and lesbians from around Europe marched through Poland's capital Saturday to demand equal rights and more tolerance in this heavily Roman Catholic nation. The parade, part of the EuroPride gay rights festival, is meant to give a boost to the fledgling gay rights movement in Poland. Gay rights were strongly repressed during the communist era, and gays and lesbians have struggled since communism fell 20 years ago for acceptance in a society still strongly influenced by the church," reports Associated Press. "As the activists moved slowly through the city, they passed small, scattered groups of counter-protesters who jeered and heckled them. Police said they arrested eight people — some of whom threw eggs and one of whom attacked a police officer — for trying to disturb the march. An initial police estimate put the number of participants at 8,000."
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Gays and Lesbians march in (mostly Catholic) Poland to demand equal rights
"Thousands of gays and lesbians from around Europe marched through Poland's capital Saturday to demand equal rights and more tolerance in this heavily Roman Catholic nation. The parade, part of the EuroPride gay rights festival, is meant to give a boost to the fledgling gay rights movement in Poland. Gay rights were strongly repressed during the communist era, and gays and lesbians have struggled since communism fell 20 years ago for acceptance in a society still strongly influenced by the church," reports Associated Press. "As the activists moved slowly through the city, they passed small, scattered groups of counter-protesters who jeered and heckled them. Police said they arrested eight people — some of whom threw eggs and one of whom attacked a police officer — for trying to disturb the march. An initial police estimate put the number of participants at 8,000."
